Interoperability, Sharing, and Reuse - Defining Terms

• Interoperability. A software component is interoperable with another component if it is able to use the other's services as part of its own, particularly over a network. The prerequisite for interoperability is common semantics, but interoperability is facilitated when network protocols and data formats are also common. When two different organizations provide the two components, common organizational trust is also required.
• Sharing. A software component is shared by two or more organizations when a single instance of that component is operated to provide services to those organizations.
• Reuse. A software component is reused by two or more organizations when those organizations each install a copy of that component to provide services to themselves.